“You know, I almost died, that’s what my mother says! - ten-year-old Mateo complains. - Mommy bought some expensive syrup for me. It was delicious! But the bad thing is that because of me we ate only bread for three days. Maybe she should not have spent so much money on me? What do you think?” 

“And there is my birthday on 8th of March! You know?” - little Barbare joins our conversation in such a cunning way speaking in whispers. – “But don’t tell my mommy that I remember about it. She will get upset, starts to cry and will say that she is a bad mother”. 

“Don’t listen to them, please come in!” - Nina, the children’s mother graciously takes my arm and leads me in. - Would you like some tea? It is so cold in here, almost like outside. Children keep catching a cold. My son had a fever - almost 40 degrees, so we had to choose between medications and food, - Nino treats me with tea with no sugar and heavily sighs. - Probably, they will kick us out from here soon... Lord, why are my children suffering so much?  - the poor woman wipes her tears. - I would never have thought that I would be unable to keep my children - but their father forgot about us, and my mother died. I was left completely alone, and since then it seems to me that we are endlessly rolling into the abyss..."

Poor, single mother Nina has absolutely no one to ask for help. It so happened that she was left completely alone, without a roof over her head, with three children in her arms and almost without a livelihood. We are her last hope.

- Nina, tell us, in order, how did you find yourself in such situation?

Nina: We live in dire poverty. It often happens that the bread we get in a social canteen saves us from hunger. My children are deprived of absolutely anything, and there is nothing I can do about it. My mom passed away three years ago - it was a stroke. Since then, I have the feeling that we are rolling into the abyss. I cannot work, there is no one to leave my children with. I used to go to Tbilisi, cleaned in several places - so I managed to earn at least some money. And now we live only on social allowance. We do not have our own housing, we keep moving from one rented apartment to another, so we almost have no money left to buy food...

- How it happened so that you were left without the roof over your head?

Nina: My parents divorced when I was very young. They had to sell their apartment and they divided the amount between them... Of course, my mother did not manage to buy anything, and she went to Russia to earn money, but nothing came out of it. So we have been wandering since then. While my mother was by my side, I somehow managed to cope, but now... You won’t believe - my children and I have moved about twenty times over the past three years. We don’t manage to pay rent on time, and the owners don’t want to give in, wait... I can understand them, for some of them it is the only source of income. And my poor children are so exhausted... Just imagine what it feels like - we move every two months, like nomads. We cannot afford renting a normal apartment - one is worse than the other. Here all the windows and doors are rotten, there is no heating, it’s freezing here like outside. The children constantly get sick, and we have no money for medications. Mateo had a fever the other day, I had to buy an expensive antibiotic, and then stay hungry for three days... I gave up on myself for a long time, my heart hurts for my children...  Why should they suffer? What’s their fault?

- Nina, sorry for the awkward question, where their father is?

Nina: He disappeared from our life four years ago. He has another family, and they already have two children; he does not even remember about us. And I cannot impose and demand anything, we had not been even married officially. I can’t say anything bad about him. While we were together, he worked at a construction site and brought money home. We did not live in poverty, but now...

- You probably imagined your future completely different?

Nina: Sure.  Believe me, my dreams were very simple and modest - quiet family life and healthy children. I thought we would both work and save money to buy our own house, that my mother will help me with children. But alas... As you see, everything turned out to be different. The only thing I can dream about for now - for my children not to starve.

- There is no one to help you, Nina?

Nina: I am completely alone, and I can only rely on myself and trust in the mercy of God. My mom was the only person who was always ready to help me. I don’t even remember my dad. I have an aunt, who lives in Tbilisi, but she also lives in a rented apartment. How can she help me?

- Did you address the local authorities for help?

Nina: I applied tree times asking them to help me with rent, but they always refuse. But I still have hope, I will keep on applying. What else can I do? My children are exhausted with this permanent moving.

- Maybe the strangers helped you? 

Nina: Yes. Almost every Sunday I go to church together with my children. Our confessor, Father Peter - a very kind person, helps us with foodstuffs - he gives us sugar, butter, and bread whenever he can. I don’t even know what would have happened to us if not this support... It was he who baptized Mariam, Mateo, and Barbare.

- I would like to meet them if it’s possible. Mariam, would you tell me about yourself? How do you study, what are your hobbies?

Mariam (12-year-old): I do my best to study well, mom says that this is the only way to achieve something in life.

- What is your favorite subject?

Mariam: Arts, and I really like to sing, but I can’t sing well, I am shy and sing only when I am alone.

- Have you already decided who you will become when you grow up?

Mariam: Probably a doctor. Pediatrician. I want to treat sick kids.

Barbare (8-year-old): And I will become a pediatrician too, Mariam and I will work together!

- Are you studying well, Barbare?

Barbare: Of course! But I don’t know how I will study now - we missed so many lessons...

Mariam: True. When the schools closed down, we were unable to attend online lessons, because we have neither computer, nor mobile phone.

- Mateo, why do you keep silent? Would you tell us something? Do you like studying?

Mateo (10-year-old): I do my best. I love math and it easy for me.

– Do you help your mother?

Mateo: Sure, I collect scrap metal. I try to carry everything myself, not to let my sister carry heavy things because I am a man!

- You see, Nina. You have a man next to you, who can support you! Maybe this question will seem silly to you, but we ask it to all our beneficiaries: what is your biggest dream?

Nina: I want my children to grow up to be good people - kind and empathetic. I dream that someday they will have their own home, from which no one will ever kick them out!

- What do you need first of all right now?

Nina: It is so embarrassing to ask... I decided to address you only for the sake of my children. First of all, the foodstuffs, of course. I already told you that sometimes we have absolutely nothing at home but bread... Children also really need a computer to study. You can see for yourself, we have absolutely nothing, not even normal beds... No blankets, no mattresses... It's just terrible!

- Would you like to ask for something personally for yourself? Please do not be shy, tell us.

Nina: I would never have bothered you for myself, believe me. But since you're asking, a washing machine and a refrigerator are my ultimate dream. They would make our life much easier...

- How did you learn about our Fund?

Nina: On Facebook, I came across your page, read the stories of many people who were in trouble... My heart hurts - there is so much grief around... I hoped that someone would decide to help my children too. And here you are. I am so grateful to you for coming and listening, because I don't even have anyone to share my sorrows with. I am already very grateful to you!

***

Friends, the Melikov family really needs our help and support. Three young children have to constantly move from one rented apartment to another, they have absolutely nothing of their own. Sometimes they eat only bread all day long. 

The family will be grateful for any help, they really need foodstuffs, a computer for studying, as well as blankets, mattresses, a washing machine, and a refrigerator.

You can visit them and provide all possible help to the Melikov family.Their address is: Rustavi, Todria second turn, Building 3, Apartment 10

Please repost our publication. Let your friends know about the grief of this family! It’s extremely important!

God gives us chances to care about people who are unable to take care of themselves. Do not pass by someone else's trouble! Those poor people are sent to us by heaven so that we could prove not by words, but in deeds that we trust in God!

Friends, there is one more request : if you know about the misfortune of a neighbor or friend do a godly deed, drop us an email at: office-fsp@fsp.ge.

Our Fund’s accounts are: 

#GE15TB7194336080100003

#GE42LB0115113036665000

#GE64BG0000000470458000 

(Purpose: the Melikov family).

You can also transfer money from our website.

It is also possible to transfer money from Nova Technology, TBCpay and ExpressPay terminals. Find our Fund under "Charity" section (You can read more about rights and responsibilities of the Fund following the link https://goo.gl/GY2Gus).

We have already helped many disadvantaged people! Let’s support the Melikov family too, as no one is immune to bad luck! And who knows, maybe someday we ourselves will need help of strangers!

One call saves life - 0901 200 270.